Nicknamed the Jewel City, Glendale truly sparkles. With its proximity to the Verdugo Hills that make up part of the San Fernando Valley, and of course, it’s endless summer skies, it’s easy to see why so many people want to live in this suburb of Los Angeles. Yet, it’s proximity to Los Angeles, just 8 miles south, is why Glendale residents need to be wary about future earthquakes. On January 17, 1994, a vicious earthquake rocked the area. Over 60 people died and over 9000 people were injured. Buildings crumbled, and infrastructure was broken. It was a truly heartbreaking scene. Glendale, and the rest of California has never been a stranger to earthquakes. They are an unfortunate reality, a juxtaposition to the sun and ocean that makes people flock to the state. But the 1994 Northridge Earthquake showed that times were changing. The increased population and modern buildings were under threat. Changes needed to be done to ensure that the future was protected. To help preserve the buildings of Glendale, it’s important to find a Glendale retrofit contractor. Important changes have been made to the building codes so that the widespread destruction that happened in 1994 can be prevented.
What is a Soft Story Building?
There are many types of buildings and it can be confusing to know just what kind you own or live in. One of the most common is a soft story building. These buildings are at least three stories high. They also have a ground floor that is open. The ground floor could include commercial space that has windows and doors. It could also include a parking garage. The main categorization of a soft story building is that the bottom floor or floors have open spaces.
After the 194 Northridge Earthquake, soft story buildings were identified as being particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. This is because there might not be enough support at the bottom of the building to support higher floors.
There are many solutions to retrofitting a soft story building. One option could be creating more shear walls that are better able to prop up existing floors. Or, if these walls already exist, they could be further re-enforced. As for parking garages, they may need extra steel beams or more columns to add more support.
Whatever the issue is, you don’t have to worry about the details. Retrofitting 360, a reliable Glendale retrofit contractor, are experts at soft story buildings. They know all they tricks of the trade to ensure that your building is able to withstand any future earthquakes. Remember that while the soft story retrofit program is mandatory, it is done so with your safety in mind. Soft story buildings were hit hard in the 1994 earthquake. It’s important that when the next big one happens, everyone will be safe in their building.
Process
While it took some time for city officials to agree on what needed to be done for existing buildings, there is now a plan. All buildings in the Glendale area were surveyed and notices were sent out to those affected by the new program. If you have received a notice, be sure to contact a soft story retrofit contractor in Glendale. A contractor, such as Retrofitting 360, will start by conducting an in-depth survey of your building. They will see what can be salvaged and what needs to be re-built.
Time and money are of the essence in any building project. This is why Retrofitting 360 will work with you to create a plan that everyone approves of. But don’t worry. You don’t need to understand the technical details of building codes and permits. A qualified retrofit company will take care of all of this.
Along the way, city officials will be notified of the project so that all regulations are followed. Noise will be kept to a minimum and parking won’t be obstructed. We want to ensure that you and your building’s tenants can keep at their daily life.
Once construction has been completed, the city will need to sign off on everything. We will do our best so that there are no surprises at the end. Remember that the deadline for completion is 2022. It’s time to start now.
